Baby Grey

Baby Grey, all blocked, waiting for embroidery. Bunnies, anyone?


While we're waiting, I'm going to share what I learned. If you remember, the first top-down baby sweater (Little Birdies) had an edging added. The button bands and the neckline edge and the waist edging were all added last in one continuous circular process. This time, I wanted a more close-fitting neckline, and more of a ribbed looked at the waist. Therefore, I started with the neck ribbing, worked down to the waist ribbing, added the sleeves, and finished them with ribbing. The very last thing to add were the button bands. Only then, did I realize I'd started out the neckline ribbing with the exactly wrong stitch. I had a 50/50 chance of being right. And I was still wrong. I began the ribbing (right side row) with the knit stitch and ended that row with the knit stitch. When I went to add the button bands, those knit stitches got eaten, and I'm left with this weird-looking business. See for yourself:

Another lesson learned. (Why are there are so many of them??!) I will make one more sweater (in pink! of course!) and get this ribbing business figured out for good.

And, for those with extra keen eyesight ..... Yes. I did put buttonholes on both button bands. I intend to sew the buttons over the buttonholes on one side, and then the recipient still has the option to move the buttons to the other band if desired. I'm pretty sure that was originally the great knitter,  Elizabeth Zimmerman's idea. I'm really not that clever.

Shades of Grey

... but probably fewer than 50. :)

Full sun photography. Sorry.

I liked the top down construction of Wee Chickadee. Seems to me to be a good starting point for more exploration. I'm a little concerned about the fibre content required for baby things, but I like the small size. I like the softness of real wool, even though I understand that most people won't appreciate having to take special care with laundering wool. I don't much like acrylic though. That leaves superwash wool which can be a little less soft. However, that's the compromise.

For this sweater, I'm using Manos Artesanas, Camino Color which is a sock yarn made in Peru. It's 74% superwash merino wool and 25% nylon (for durability), and most importantly, it was in my stash waiting for its day in the sun. The label says it can be machine washed (gently) and left to dry flat. It's a lovely mix of dove greys.

Instead of the knitted on edging, I'm going a more traditional route with ribbing at the neck and hem and cuffs. I'm planning to embroider around the neckline. I was thinking bunnies....but maybe geese?  And, of course, I'll need buttons!!

The age of steam

... or, What a difference a steam iron makes!

 

I think we spend a lot of time worrying about knitting, and not enough time worrying about finishing. Steam blocking or wet blocking makes such a difference to the finished product, don't you think?

Little Birdies

So, I've finally figured out that if I wait until I have a finished object to show, we're going to go a long time between posts. Here's what's on my needles right now.

Doesn't look like much, does it? It's actually a pretty faithful reproduction of Wee Chickadee by Ysolda Teague. I want to use this design as a blueprint to make little sweaters with different stranded motifs on the yoke and in different weights of wool. For me, the quickest way to that end, is to really understand the construction, and the easiest way for me to do that is to knit Ysolda Teague's sweater as she intended. It's like going to school to learn the basics. After you graduate, you have the background to spread your wings.

This version is knit in fingering weight yarn. The heathered green is Louet Gems Fingering Weight in a colourway called Baby Willow. The other yarns are all superwash sock yarns chosen so the finished sweater will be easily laundered. 3.25 mm needles. I'm making the size to fit 6 - 9 months.